The J.League YBC Levain Cup saw an exciting day of matches on March 26, 2025, as teams battled fiercely in the first round. Among the highlights, J3 Tochigi SC triumphed over J2 Vegalta Sendai in a nail-biting penalty shootout after a tense goalless draw, advancing to the next stage of the tournament.
The match, held at Tochigi Green Stadium, kicked off at 19:00, with an attendance of 2,128 fans. The atmosphere was charged as both teams fought hard, but neither could find the back of the net during regular and extra time. Ultimately, Tochigi SC emerged victorious, winning the shootout 4-3.
Tochigi SC's head coach, Shinji Kobayashi, expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, particularly in the second half. "Changing the members in the second half led to a slight power-up," he noted. He praised his players for adapting their play style effectively against a team that had employed a four-back formation. "They worked hard on their positioning, making sure to utilize both vertical and wide play," he added.
In other matches on the same day, J3 teams also made headlines. Fukushima United FC and Matsumoto Yamaga FC both secured victories against J2 teams, joining Tochigi SC in the second round. Fukushima had a thrilling match against J2 Consadole Sapporo, ending 6-3 after extra time. They initially drew 3-3, but scored three goals in the extra period to seal their win.
Matsumoto Yamaga FC faced J2 Sagan Tosu and won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Yuya Tanaka, who scored in the 9th minute of the first half of extra time. Meanwhile, Giravanz Kitakyushu had already advanced earlier with a 1-0 victory over Fagiano Okayama.
In a unique matchup, the match between Kagoshima United FC and Montedio Yamagata featured the first professional encounter between the Yoshio brothers. Kaito Yoshio, 26, started for Yamagata, while his younger brother Kotaro, 23, came on as a substitute for Kagoshima. Unfortunately for the younger Yoshio, Yamagata claimed a 2-0 victory.
As the tournament progresses, the second round pairings for Kyushu teams have been announced. On April 9, V-Varen Nagasaki will host J1 Shonan Bellmare, while Tochigi SC will face J1 Avispa Fukuoka on April 16 at Tochigi's home ground. Other matchups include Kitakyushu against Yokohama FC on the same day.
Despite the excitement, not all teams fared well. J2 teams Oita Trinita, Roasso Kumamoto, and J3 Kagoshima United FC were eliminated from the tournament. The results from the day's matches were as follows:
- J2 Mito 1 - 0 J2 Kumamoto
- J3 Gunma 1 - 4 (after extra time) J2 Nagasaki
- J3 Matsumoto 1 - 0 (after extra time) J2 Tosu
- J2 Oita 2 - 3 J2 Yamaguchi
- J3 Kagoshima 0 - 2 J2 Yamagata
Looking ahead, the postponed match between FC Imabari and Tokushima Vortis due to wildfires will be rescheduled for April 9.
As the YBC Levain Cup continues, fans eagerly anticipate the next round of matches, hoping for more thrilling moments and surprises. The competition is heating up, and teams are keen to make their mark in this prestigious tournament.
